"Perhaps it will," said Wise, looking at her, thoughtfully. "If it called on Mr. Tracy last night, it may be here again to-night, and you may be favoured. Are you not afraid?" "Not of the ghost," said Zizi, "but I am afraid that some of you people may play a trick just to scare me. Will you double up, so I can feel sure there's nothing of that sort?" "I'll take Mr. Tracy's room," said Mr. Wise, "then I can keep my eye on Mr. Braye and Professor Hardwick. Though I've no mental image of either of them trailing round in sheets!" "I should say not!" and Braye shuddered. "No, Miss Zizi, you've nothing to fear from us." "Nor us," Norma assured her. "I was going to sleep in the room with Miss Carnforth, anyway, and that will preclude either of us impersonating a phantom." "What an awful idea," and Eve glowered at Zizi. "You don't really think any of us would stoop to such a despicable thing, do you?" "You never can tell," said Zizi, nonchalantly. "Mrs. Landon, you won't let your husband leave your room, will you?" "No," said Milly, not at all resenting the question which Zizi put to her in a gentle, pleading tone, very different from that she had used to the others. And so, the inmates of the house being accounted for, and the doors and windows looked after with extra care and precaution, the household settled itself to quietness, and the dark hours passed, ticked off and struck by the great deep-toned clock in the hall. It was between two and three, when Zizi, watching, perceived her door slowly and silently swing open. Determined to learn all possible as to who the intruder could be, the girl lay motionless, but breathing deeply as if asleep. Her eyes, almost closed, yet took in every movement of her silent visitor. It was no white-robed ghost, but a tall figure, clad in a long black cloak, and wearing a black mask. With a swift stride, that betokened a man, the figure approached the bed, having first softly closed the door that led to the hall. Watching covertly for the next development, Zizi was all unprepared for what really happened. The man, with a sudden, swift gesture, took the girl's chin in one strong hand, and opened her mouth, while with the other he thrust in a thick soft cloth, saturated with chloroform. Not enough to make her lose her senses entirely, it partially stupefied her, and the choking cloth prevented all speech. Whipping off the long dark cloak he wore, the man flung it round Zizi, as he lifted the slender form from the bed. Vainly trying to emit a shriek, or utter a groan, Zizi fell, half-conscious, back in the arms that supported her.